Maintenance and repair of aircraft comprise more than 50% of total ownership costs. The use of monitoring systems in air navigation structure are the ideal alternative to reduce substantially the repair and maintenance cost and improve safety.

Advanced CFRP (Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer) materials are being intensively used in the aircraft industry due to their optimal mechanical properties.

Monolithic composite structures are composed by several subcomponents that consolidate in a co-curing/co-bonding process, in which thermal and pressure cycles are applied. Possibility of stringer run-out debonding in CFRP monolithic skin due to shear stresses between stringer and skin

The useful life and residual strength of these structures can be predicted by installing strain and temperature sensors. The installation of these sensors with smart monitoring system can detect and predict deformation and fatigue failures which are caused by cyclic loads on essential's elements such as wings.